Changes

I'm long overdue for some updates here--and goodness there have been some big changes! In the last month, Neil started a new job concurrently with the last months of his PhD, we sold our home, bought a new house, and Matthew turned one!!! So many wonderful and exciting things--we literally feel that the windows of heaven have been opened and blessings are pouring down on us.

The area where we are moving is consistently ranked as one of the best towns in America to raise a family. The schools are the best in the state (Abigail has gone from the choice of 3 electives in middle school to more than 30!!). The people are friendly and welcoming. The neighborhood pool is next door to our home, and we have more than a half-acre for the children to run and play while still being in the middle of town & only ten minutes from the temple. We have five bedrooms, a basement, and tons of space--plus the kitchen & laundry room of my dreams! Lots and lots of updating to do, but I can't wait to get started--I know exactly what a showstopper this home will be once we're through with it. :-)

I seriously love the exterior of this home so much!!!

The backyard is HUGE--it comes with a playset, tree swings, a basketball pad, a garden, tons of mature trees, a shed, and lots of room for chickens and fruit trees!!

Seriously love the front of the house too--you can't really see it in this photo but the door has glass skylights above the wooden part and it's just gorgeous. And I love the stone & wood siding combo!!

Oh this kitchen--when I walked into this kitchen I KNEW this was the home for us. Just absolutely knew--I could literally picture our family here. (It took Neil another 40 houses and 3 more showings on this house before he felt the same way, but I was sure right away! I'm still really glad we kept searching though because now we both know for sure.) ;-)

I have big plans for this space. Can't wait to make them happen!!

I love how the kitchen is literally the heart of the home--from one door you access the living room (and sunroom), from another the formal dining room, while the kitchen itself is open to the breakfast area and the family room.

And THESE WINDOWS. I love them with all my heart. (Not so much the built-ins, but good golly look at that light and that floor!!)

Our current home has a pass-through laundry room between the garage and the kitchen. It is always a nightmare when everyone is getting ready to leave--it's just tiny and inevitably people get stepped on and elbowed and fighting breaks out.

This laundry room could not be more dreamy to me. It does NOT connect to the garage (it does have an exterior door to the back yard). It has a sink! An extra 'fridge (which we will replace but whatever, there's room for the fridge and that's what counts). A desk area which I will tear out and build in cubbies/lockers! And the other door connects to the back hallway, which has a full bath, so basically when my muddy kids come in from the back yard, they can drop their clothes in the washer and go straight into the shower. Heaven!!!

The formal living room is super long--I'm not sure yet how I'm going to configure this but I'm excited to get started (and goodbye built-ins!).

And I'm daydreaming about this sunroom already--I know exactly how I'm going to renovate it and it is going to be an awesome haven of blissfulness. :-)

Probably enough pictures for now, but it's got 5 bedrooms, a basement (with an office/exercise room), a cedar closet, a tornado bunker (which really is awesome here!), etc. We move in a month from today!!